Guard



M. C. MAISH Jan. 23, 1934.

GUARD Filed Oct. 50, 1929 m a. M

M W ATTORNEY:

Patented Jan. 23, 1934 UNITED STATES 4 Claims.

This invention relates to finger guards or inclosures and is particularly directed to a device of this character for preventing infants from sucking their thumbs. It is therefore the primary object of this invention to provide an improved wire inclosure or cage adapted to sufficiently surround the infants thumb for preventing satisfactory access thereto.

The device may be constructed of a plurality of wire strands, and for this reason, it is another object of this invention to provide a twisted wire inclosure in which the twisting is extremely novel resulting in a more durable and efficient device. The twisted guard tends to give the thumb-sucking infant less satisfaction than the straight or single wire due to the uneven surfaces presented, the twisted wire aiding in breaking suction.

Another object is to provide an improved means for attaching the device to the childs hand which is effective to eliminate any chafing or uncomfortable pressure on the hand.

Another object is to provide a device of the above nature in which, although formed to discourage the infant, there are no sharp extensions or wire ends or points of attachment upon which the child might cut its lips or gums.

Another object is to provide a device, formed by interweaving wire strands, which is exceedingly flexible and in which there are no soldered joints or connections which might work loose and injure the child.

Another object is to provide a device of this nature which offers less interference to normal use of the hand.

Other objects and certain advantages relate to the general construction of the guard and will be more fully apparent from the description of the figures of the drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective View illustrating the device applied to the hand of the child.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the device removed from the hand.

Figure 3 is an end elevation of the guard.

A form of guard exemplifying the provisions set forth in the objects, comprises, strands 5-5 of wire twisted to provide a plurality of rings 6 axially aligned, and spaced apart by connecting bars '7 and a pair of attaching limbs 8, extending longitudinally from the inner end of the guard, these extensions terminating in eyelets 99 through which eyelets a tape 10 is threaded and adapted to be bound about the wrist.

Referring specifically to the views of the drawing two strands of Wire are used. Intermediate portions of the two strands are formed into semicircular shape as at 11, the semicircular shapes providing the upper endmost ring of the series. The joined wires are then bent downwardly at right angles to the ring and twisted three or four times to form the bars '7. Portions thereof are bent inwardly in parallelism or substantially so, with the first formed portions of the wire to form the second ring. The twisted wires are separated and each circularly bent through 90 as at 12 to jointly form a ring. A separated portion of a strand from one twisted bar of the device joins another portion of the same strand from the opposite bar and the joined strands are bent downwardly and twisted in the same manner as in the first mentioned down turned portions, thus providing that the second twisted portions or bars are 90 of rotation from the first mentioned twisted bars.

The formation of the second ring is repeated to form the third ring and the connecting portions of the wire are then twisted to form the relatively long extensions or limbs 88 disposed substantially parallel to the connecting twisted portions or bars and aligned with the first mentioned twisted portions. These long extensions are the attaching means for the guard. Each extension terminates in a pair of eyelets 9-9, formed, one on the end of each respective strand portions making up the extensions. The eyelets are adapted to lie fiat against the wrist and may be sprung to suit the particular hand on which they are placed.

The tape 10 may be of cloth, gauze, or any material capable of being drawn about the wrist and tied. The strands making up the guard are formed of spring steel wire, which resists permanent deformation, and is sufficientlyfiexible to permit springing of the device to fit the particular hand.

The thumb or finger protrudes slightly from the end of the device as shown in Figure 1, thus permitting the greatest possible use of the finger under the circumstances.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A device of the class described, comprising, a plurality of twisted wire strands, said wire strands forming a plurality of spaced rings of single strand, connecting bars between said rings of twisted double strand, and limbs of twisted double strand extending from an end ring for attaching the device.

2. A guard adapted to inclose the thumb, said guard constructed of twisted wire strands, forming, a plurality of spaced apart rings, longitudiing a pair of wires twisted together at the medial portions to form the top of the guard, one pair of the end portions of the wires bent into an open loop at the front of the thumb, the other pair of wires bent so as to form a splint at the back of the thumb, opposed wires of each pair then bent inwardly and twisted into a circular formation to enclose the thumb, and the extreme ends of the Wires bent into eyelets to lie alongthe sides of the thumb and to receive a binding tape.

MORTON C. MAISH. 

